EP1220974A1 - Method of drilling a wellbore with disengagable couplers - Google Patents
Method of drilling a wellbore with disengagable couplersInfo
- Publication number
- EP1220974A1 EP1220974A1 EP00972768A EP00972768A EP1220974A1 EP 1220974 A1 EP1220974 A1 EP 1220974A1 EP 00972768 A EP00972768 A EP 00972768A EP 00972768 A EP00972768 A EP 00972768A EP 1220974 A1 EP1220974 A1 EP 1220974A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- drill string
- coupler
- disengaged
- sections
- mode
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000005553 drilling Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 16
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 14
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 27
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B47/00—Survey of boreholes or wells
- E21B47/09—Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells, e.g. the position of an extending arm; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
- E21B17/05—Swivel joints
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B17/00—Drilling rods or pipes; Flexible drill strings; Kellies; Drill collars; Sucker rods; Cables; Casings; Tubings
- E21B17/02—Couplings; joints
- E21B17/04—Couplings; joints between rod or the like and bit or between rod and rod or the like
- E21B17/06—Releasing-joints, e.g. safety joints
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of drilling a wellbore in an earth formation using a drill string connected at the upper end thereof to a rotary drive and being provided with a drill bit.
- the invention further- more relates to a drill string for use in the method.
- a frequently encountered problem during drilling of a wellbore is sticking of the drill string in the wellbore. Such sticking can be, for example, due to differential sticking of drill string joints to the wellbore wall as a result of a pressure difference between the drilling fluid pressure in the wellbore and the pressure of earth formation fluid present in the pores of the formation. The problem is more frequently encountered in depleted oil/gas reservoirs where the pore pressure has decreased significantly.
- a drill string for drilling a wellbore in an earth formation, the drill string comprising a drill bit, means for connecting the upper end of the drill string to a rotary drive, and a plurality of couplers arranged at selected drill string intervals, each coupler interconnecting two adjacent sections of the drill string and being operable in an engaged mode in which the coupler transmits torque between the adjacent drill string sections and a disengaged mode in which the adjacent drill string sections are free to rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the drill string, each coupler being controllable by control means for moving the coupler between said engaged mode and said disengaged mode.
- FIG. 1 schematically shows a drill string for use in the method according to the invention.
- Fig. 1 a drill string 1 extending into a wellbore 3 formed in an earth formation 5.
- the lower end of the drill string 1 is provided with a drill bit 6 and the upper end of the drill string 1 is connected to a rotary table 7 at surface for rotating the drill string, which rotary table 7 forms part of a conventional drilling rig 9.
- the drill string 1 is provided with four couplers 10, 12, 14, 16 arranged at selected intervals along the length of the drill string 1, thus dividing the drill string in drill string sections 18, 20, 22, 24, 26.
- Sections 18, 20 are interconnected by coupler 10, sections 20, 22 are interconnected by coupler 12, sections 22, 24 are interconnected by coupler 14, and sections 24, 26 are interconnected by coupler 16.
- a fluid passage (not shown) for drilling fluid extends in longitudinal direction through the drill string 1.
- Each coupler is operable in an engaged mode in which the coupler transmits rotation between the two drill string sections interconnected by the coupler, and a disengaged mode in which the couplers allows free rotation of the two drill string sections interconnected by the coupler relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the drill string.
- coupler 10 transmits rotation from section 18 to section 20
- coupler 12 transmits rotation from section 20 to section 22
- coupler 14 transmits rotation from section 22 to section 24
- coupler 16 transmits rotation from section 24 to section 26.
- coupler 10 allows free rotation of section 18 relative to section 20
- coupler 12 allows free rotation of section 20 relative to section 22
- coupler 14 allows free rotation of section 22 relative to section 24
- coupler 16 allows free rotation of section 24 relative to section 26.
- Each coupler 10, 12, 14, 16 is provided with an electronic control system (not shown) for selectively switching the coupler from the engaged mode to the disengaged mode and for selectively switching the coupler from the disengaged mode to the engaged mode.
- Each control system is in communication with the fluid passage of the drill string 1 and is uniquely responsive to a selected fluid pressure variation in the fluid passage.
- the control system of coupler 10 is uniquely responsive to a first pressure variation, i.e. the other couplers are not responsive to the first pressure variation.
- the control system of coupler 12 is uniquely responsive to a second pressure variation
- the control system of coupler 14 is uniquely responsive to a third pressure variation
- the control system of coupler 16 is uniquely responsive to a fourth pressure variation.
- the first, second, third and fourth pressure variations are in the form of mutually different series of pressure pulses induced to a column of drilling fluid present in the fluid passage by a fluid pump (not shown) at the drilling rig for pumping drilling fluid through the drill string.
- each coupler 10, 12, 14, 16 is in the engaged mode.
- the fluid pump is operated to induce the first pressure variation to the column of fluid.
- the control system of coupler 10 responses so as to switch the coupler 10 to the disengaged mode, while the other couplers remain in the engaged mode.
- the rotary table 7 is then rotated, and as a result drill string section 18 is rotated due to the fact that only a limited amount of torque is needed to free drill string section 18 when compared to the torque which would be needed to free the entire drill string 1.
- the pump is operated to produce again the first pressure variation to the fluid column thereby inducing the control system of coupler 10 to switch the coupler 10 back to the engaged mode.
- the pump is operated to produce the second pressure variation in the fluid column.
- the control system of coupler 12 responses so as to switch the coupler 12 to the disengaged mode, while the other couplers remain in the engaged mode.
- the rotary table 7 is then rotated, and as a result drill string sections 18 and 20 are simultaneously rotated. It is thereby relevant to note that no differential sticking of drill string section 18 has occurred in the short period of time between engaging coupler 10 and disengaging coupler 12.
- the pump is operated to produce again the second pressure variation to the fluid column thereby inducing the control system of coupler 12 to switch the coupler 12 back to the engaged mode.
- the pump is operated to produce the third pressure variation in the fluid column.
- the control system of coupler 14 responses so as to switch the coupler 14 to the disengaged mode, while the other couplers remain in the engaged mode.
- the rotary table 7 is then rotated, and as a result drill string sections 18, 20 and 22 are simultaneously rotated. No differential sticking of drill string sections 18 and 20 has occurred in the short period of time between engaging coupler 12 and disengaging coupler 14.
- the pump is operated to produce again the third pressure variation to the fluid column thereby inducing the control system of coupler 14 to switch the coupler 14 back to the engaged mode.
- the pump is operated to produce the fourth pressure variation in the fluid column.
- the control system of coupler 16 responses so as to switch the coupler 16 to the disengaged mode, while the other couplers remain in the engaged mode.
- the rotary table 7 is then rotated, and as a result drill string sections 18, 20, 22 and 24 are simultaneously rotated. No differential sticking of drill string sections 18, 20 and 22 has occurred in the short period of time between engaging coupler 14 and disengaging coupler 16.
- the pump is operated to produce again the fourth pressure variation to the fluid column thereby inducing the control system of coupler 16 to switch the coupler 16 back to the engaged mode.
- the rotary table 7 is then rotated, and as a result the entire drill string 1 is rotated. In this manner the drill string 1 has been freed from differential sticking in a stepwise manner .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP00972768A EP1220974B1 (en) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-10-13 | Method of drilling a wellbore with disengagable couplers |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP99203404 | 1999-10-15 | ||
| EP99203404 | 1999-10-15 | ||
| PCT/EP2000/010150 WO2001029373A1 (en) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-10-13 | Method of drilling a wellbore with disengageable couplers |
| EP00972768A EP1220974B1 (en) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-10-13 | Method of drilling a wellbore with disengagable couplers |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1220974A1 true EP1220974A1 (en) | 2002-07-10 |
| EP1220974B1 EP1220974B1 (en) | 2005-12-21 |
Family
ID=8240751
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP00972768A Expired - Lifetime EP1220974B1 (en) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-10-13 | Method of drilling a wellbore with disengagable couplers |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1220974B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU763082B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2384811C (en) |
| NO (1) | NO20021741L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2001029373A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2381806A (en) * | 2001-11-13 | 2003-05-14 | Ruff Pup Ltd | Torque isolation mechanism |
| US6858227B1 (en) | 2001-11-21 | 2005-02-22 | Sonus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Vitamin E conjugates |
| US7011162B2 (en) | 2002-11-14 | 2006-03-14 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Hydraulically activated swivel for running expandable components with tailpipe |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3100538A (en) * | 1961-12-12 | 1963-08-13 | Houston Oil Field Mat Co Inc | Tubing rotary swivel assembly |
| CA2276517C (en) * | 1996-12-31 | 2009-09-29 | Charles M. Helms | Lockable swivel apparatus and method |
| EG21606A (en) * | 1997-02-25 | 2001-12-31 | Shell Int Research | Drill string tool |
| US5947214A (en) * | 1997-03-21 | 1999-09-07 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | BIT torque limiting device |
-
2000
- 2000-10-13 WO PCT/EP2000/010150 patent/WO2001029373A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2000-10-13 AU AU11386/01A patent/AU763082B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2000-10-13 CA CA002384811A patent/CA2384811C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-10-13 EP EP00972768A patent/EP1220974B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2002
- 2002-04-12 NO NO20021741A patent/NO20021741L/en unknown
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See references of WO0129373A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP1220974B1 (en) | 2005-12-21 |
| NO20021741D0 (en) | 2002-04-12 |
| NO20021741L (en) | 2002-04-12 |
| CA2384811A1 (en) | 2001-04-26 |
| CA2384811C (en) | 2008-11-25 |
| WO2001029373A1 (en) | 2001-04-26 |
| AU763082B2 (en) | 2003-07-10 |
| AU1138601A (en) | 2001-04-30 |
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